Патент USA US3422735

Jan- 21, 1969
o. M. BLACK ETAL
3,422,728
SELF-MANIFOLDING CYLINDERS
Filed Oct- 18, 1966
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3,422,728
Patented Jan. 21, 1969
1
2
3,422,723
The manifolds at opposite ends of the assembly can be
alternately connected to a source of pressure for operating
the pistons in the cylinders in ?rst one direction and then
SELF-MANIFOLDING CYLINDERS
Donald M. Black and Samuel .1. Carfagno, Chatsworth,
the other, the side of each piston which is not exposed to
pressure being connected to a discharge line. The piston
Calif., assignors to Flexible Packaging Equipment, Inc.,
Chatsworth, Calif., a corporation of California
Filed Oct. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 587,480
U.S. Cl. 91-414
Int. Cl. F15b 11/16; F01b 1 /00; F161; 1/14
10 Claims
rod or stem of each unit is connected to its individual tool
for performing a desired operation.
From the foregoing, it may be observed that in order
to provide air cylinders or actuators for multiple in
10 dividual operations, the result can be very effectively
realized merely by manifolding the cylinders together in
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
the manner described (i.e.) that is, merely by juxtaposing
the air cylinders together in sealing relationship with each
The invention relates to ?uid actuating cylinders. By
the structure of the invention, groups of cylinders are as
sembled in parallel with manifolds provided directly
across the ends of the cylinders, that it, the cylinders being
joined directly to the manifolds. In one manifold there
are provided valves controlling communication between
the manifold and individual cylinders. The piston rods of
the cylinders extend through the other manifold. In a pre
ferred form of the invention, the manifolds are formed by
way of modular units at the ends of the cylinders which
are juxtaposed against each other in sealing relationship
to provide a continuous manifold across the ends of the
cylinders.
other to provide a manifold at each end of the assembly.
15
A further speci?c object of the invention is to contribute
to the result desired as described, by providing a ‘valve
built into the end part of each air cylinder and controlling
a port providing admission of operating ?uid to that cyl
inder. In the exemplary form of the invention, this valve
is shown as a manual shut-off valve, although it might
be a throttling valve or an automatically-operated valve.
A further object of the invention is to provide an air
cylinder of the type described having end parts, the end
parts having transverse channels which are normal to the
bore of the cylinder; the said end parts having ?at exterior
surfaces adapted to be brought into sealing juxtaposition
with similar ?at surfaces on other air cylinders whereby
This invention relates to improvements in ?uid cylinders
to provide continuous manifolds at opposite ends of an
having ?uid-driven pistons in them. They may be cylinders
assembly of the said cylinders.
constituting pneumatically or hydraulically driven actua 30
Further objects and additional advantages of the inven
tors. In the exemplary form of the invention as described
tion will become apparent from the following detailed de
herein, it is described as being applied to pneumatically
scription and annexed drawings, wherein:
driven double-acting cylinders. The pistons of the cylinders
FIGURE 1 is a view of one of the air cylinders of the
have actuating stems which are reciprocated, and may be
invention; and
utilized to perform any desired operating function. In the 35
FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of a group of the
speci?c exemplary form of the invention, the cylinders or
air cylinders showing them manifolded together.
actuators may be utilized to operate punches for punching
Referring now to the ?gures of the drawing, numeral
holes in polyethylene material which will serve as aerating
10 designates one of the air cylinders. It comprises a
holes in bags formed of the polyethylene.
tubular body 12 made of any suitable material. In the body
The invention as described herein is intended to solve
is a piston 13 having an annular groove 15 in it, in which
particular problems and to serve particular purposes in
is a sealing O-ring 17. The piston 13 is connected to a
the art. Air or ?uid operated actuators (i.e.) air cylinders
piston rod or stem 20 which will be referred to again
are widely used for performing various functions wher
presently.
ever a type of actuator having a linear stroke is appro
priate. For certain types of service or duty, it is necessary
to have a plurality of actuators assembled together, each
actuator individually performing a desired function. The
air cylinders or actuators may be operated from a com
mon source of air under pressure, for example, and they
may be connected to a common discharge line. Further
more, it is usually desirable to provide valve means for
At one end of the cylinder is a part or member in the
form of a rectangular block 22 having in it a cylindrical
passageway or channel 23 which is normal to the bore in
the cylinder 10. One face of the end member 22 has an
annular groove or slot 25 in it and the end of the cylinder
12 is seated in this groove. The side 24 of the member
22 has a channel or ori?ce 27 through it, one end of which
is tapered, as shown at 28, to provide a sea for a ball
individually controlling the respective air cylinders.
valve 39. The valve 30 is operable by a stem 32 having
In the past, the setting up of an installation of the type
described has required a substantial amount of equipment
a handle 33 on its end. The channel or ori?ce 27 communi
cates with the interior of the cylinder 10 on one side of the
for purposes of making connections between air cylinders; 55 piston 13. One side 37 of the member 22 has a cylindrical
making connections to the source of operating pressure;
recess 39 in it and seated in this recess is a cylindrical
and providing valves in these connections for control of
member 41 having a central bore 43 through which the
the air cylinders. It is a primary object of this invention
stem 32 passes. The bore 43 connects with a counterbore
to greatly simplify and make more economical the setting
up of an installation of this type, particularly by eliminat
ing the need for a substantial part of the equipment that
would otherwise be required, and the time involved in
44 in which the handle 33 is received.
The end face 47 of the member 22 has an annular
groove 48 in it in which is received a sealing O-ring 49.
The end face 53 of the part 22 has an annular groove 54
setting up the apparatus.
in it in which is received a sealing O-ring 55.
In the preferred exemplary form of the invention, air
At the opposite end of the cylinder 12 is a part or mem
cylinders are provided having end parts having transverse 65 ber 60 which is similar to the part 22. Formed in its inner
channels therethrough, the cylinders being constructed so
face 61 is an annular groove or slot 62 in which is received
that the end parts can be directly manifolded and sealed
the other end of the cylinder 12. This side of the part 60
has an aperture 64 through which the stem 20 of the
together so as to provide a continuous manifold at each
end of the assembly of manifolded cylinders. Preferably,
piston passes. This part 60 has a transverse bore or chan
each cylinder has an end part or unit having the transverse 70 nel 67 similar to the transverse bore or channel 23 in the
channel in it, and a built-in valve cooperating with a port
part 22. The stem 20 passes through an opening 70 in the
controlling the admission of operating air to the cylinder.
other side or face 71 of the part 60. This side of the part
3
3,422,728
60 has a circular recess 73 in it in which is received a cy
lindrical member 74. This member has a central bore 75
4
stroke at the rate of 150 strokes per minute. In the event
it should be desired to inactivate any particular cylinder,
this would be accomplished simply by closing its individual
valve 30 preventing air from entering that particular cylin
and the stem. 20 passes outwardly through this bore. The
stem 20 is threaded at its end, as shown at 79, for attach
ment thereto of any type of tool to be ireciprocated, such as
a punch. The punch may be of a type suitable to punch
der. In FIGURE 2, pressure in the manifold 94, of course,
drives the pistons downwardly, and pressure in the mani
fold 95 drives the pistons upwardly.
From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will under
stand the nature of the construction, operation and pur
holes in polyethylene material to provide aerating holes
in bags made from the polyethylene material. Of course,
any other type of service might be performed also. In the
end face 80 of the part 60 there is an annular groove 81 10 pose of the invention and will appreciate that it achieves
and realizes all of the objects and advantages set forth
and provided in this groove is a sealing O-ring 82. In the
end face 85 of the part 62 there is provided an annular
in the foregoing, as well as having many additional advan
groove 86 in which is provided a sealing O-ring 87.
Numerals 10' and 10" designate two additional air
tages that are apparent from the detailed description. As
may be seen, the invention ideally adapts itself to the
situation wherein it is desired to accomplish a plurality
cylinders which are identical in construction to the air
cylinder 10. Inasmuch as the cylinders are identical in
construction, they need not be described in detail.
The cylinders as described are self-manifolding. FIG
URE 2 shows the manner in which the cylinders are mani
folded together. As may be seen, the face or side 53 of 20
or a large number of individual actuations at a given
site. It avoids the problem and necessity of individually
mounting a large number of cylinders at a given location.
This comes about because of the fact that the air cylinders
described herein are assembled together into a unitary
compact package. It is unnecessary to provide tubing or
part 22 of cylinder 10 is juxtaposed against the face or
piping for connecting or manifolding the cylinders to
side 47’ of the part or member 22' of cylinder 10'. When
gether because they are self-manifolding; that is, when
these faces are thus brought together, the annular grooves
juxtaposed together, the cylinders provide their own mani
54 and 48' are opposite each other with an O-ring 55 in
the grooves and sealing these faces together.
25 folds at opposite ends. There are no piping connections
between cylinders. To then provide for operation, it is
Similarly, the face 85 of part 60 at the other end of
only necessary to make connections to the manifolds at
cylinder 10 is brought into facing juxtaposition with the
the opposite ends of the cylinders, which is done in a
face 80' of the part 60' at the other end of cylinder 10'.
very simple way as described.
The annular grooves 86 and 81’ are now opposite each
Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide separate
other with an O-ring 87 in these grooves providing seal
lengths of piping and valves for control of individual
ing relationship between these parts of the two cylinders.
cylinders. This comes about because each cylinder has its
Cylinder 10" is similarly manifolded to the cylinder 10'.
own ‘built-in valve unit at one end. Thus it may be seen
All of the air cylinders may be operated together or
that the invention makes substantial contributions from
individual cylinders may be operated. It will be observed
the standpoint of economies in construction and fabrica
that the transverse channels 23, 23’ and 23" form a
tion, as well as in assembly and maintenance as well as
continuous manifold 94 at one end of the assembly. The
savings in time in these areas.
transverse channels 67, 67' and 67" ‘form a continuous
While the invention has been described herein in exem
manifold 95 at the other end of the assembly. Thus, it will
plary form, as applied to an air cylinder or actuator, it
be seen that any number of air cylinders may be mani
should be understood, of course, that the invention is
folded together in the manner described to provide a de
sired number of individual actuators at a single location.
equally applicable to cylinders operated by other ?uids,
The cylinders may be held or clamped together in any
suitable manner. A preferred manner is by the use of
plates having spaced apertures sized to ?t over the circular
members 41, 41' and 41", a similar plate being used at
the opposite ends of the cylinders. The plates are desig 45
such as hydraulically-operated cylinders. The invention
may be adapted in cylinders which are single-acting as well
as double-acting.
The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred
form of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illus
nated at 96 and 97. When the desired number of actua
trative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be
tors has been manifolded together in this manner, the
accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto.
What is claimed is:
manifolds 94 and 95 are closed at one end. This may be
done simply by securing an additional member like mem
ber 22" to it, in the same manner, the additional mem
_ 1. In apparatus of the character described, in combina
50 tron, a cylinder having a movable piston therein, a ?tting
at an end of the cylinder having a channel therethrough,
ber not having the transverse channel or bore through it.
a second similar cylinder having a similar end ?tting, said
Such members are designated at 100 and 101, sealed to
end ?ttings having faces con?gurated adapting them to
members 22" and 60" by O-rings as shown. Manifolds
be brought into juxtaposed sealing relationship in a man
94 and 95 are closed at the left end by members 103 and
104, similar to members 22 and 60, to which threaded 55 ner whereby the channels through the ?ttings form a
continuous manifold adapted to have communication with
connection is made with lines 105 and 106. Members
the cylinders.
103 and 104 are closed at one end as shown, having
2. A construction as in claim 1 wherein said faces of
threaded openings for lines 105 and 106. All of the mem
the end ?ttings are ?at and embody means to provide
bers 100, 101, 103 and 104 have the extending cylindrical
parts to be received in apertures in plates 96 and 97 for v60 sealing engagement between the said faces.
3. A construction as in claim 1 wherein each of said
holding the components together in sealed relationship.
?ttings has a port providing communication with the
Numeral 110 designates a four-way valve connected to
rnterior of the cylinder, and valve means carried by the
inlet pipe 111 and outlet pipe 112. The pipe 111 may be
connected to a source of suitable operating pressure and
the pipe 112 may be connected with a discharge line. The 65
four-way valve 110 may lbe operated cyclically and this
operation may be automatic. For example, it may be op
?tting controlling said port.
4. A construction as in claim 1 wherein said ?rst cyl
inder has a similar ?tting at the opposite end having a
channel therethrough, said second cylinder having a simi
lar ?tting at its opposite end, the said ?ttings at the op
erated at the rate of 150 cycles per minute to admit air
posite ends ‘being con?gurated so as to adapt them to be
‘under pressure to ?rst one of the manifolds 94 and '95 and 70 brought into juxtaposition in sealing relationship whereby
then the other through lines 105 and 106.
the channels therein form a continuous manifold, at the
When one manifold is connected to the pressure source,
opposite end of the assembly.
the other is connected to the discharge line. Thus, with
5. A construction as in claim 1 wherein the pistons in
each of the valves 30 open, each of the air cylinders in
said cylinders have stems extending through the ?ttings
the assembly would perform a reciprocating actuating
at the second ends of the cylinders.
3,422,728
5
6. A construction as in claim 1 including means for
connecting and disconnecting the manifolds formed at
opposite ends of the assemblies of cylinders to a source
of ?uid pressure.
7. A construction as in claim 1 including means for
closing the ends of the said manifold and alternately ad
mitting pressure thereto.
8. A construction as in claim 1 for holding the cylin
ders in juxtaposed relationship.
References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS
9. A construction as in claim 8 wherein said means
comprises at least one plate having spaced apertures ?tting
over similarly spaced protuberances on the said ?ttings.
10. In an apparatus of the character described in com
bination, a plurality of parallel cylinders having pistons
6
axes of the cylinders and all of the cylinders having com
munication with the second manifold, a plurality of indi
vidual valves, each individual valve being positioned to
control the path of communication between one of said
cylinders and said ?rst manifold, and the said valves being
within the ?rst manifold.
1,981,400
11/1934
Tobin _____________ __ 91-411
2,05 6,954 10/ 1936 Bryant.
3,065,734
3,156,160
11/1962
11/1964
Molzahn ______ __ 92—~255 XR
Meyer et a1. ________ __ 92—13
therein, means at one end of the cylinders forming a
manifold extending transversely to the axes of the cylin
ders and all cylinders being joined directly to the said
manifold, means at the opposite ends of the cylinders
forming a second manifold extending transversely to the
EDGAR W. GEOGHEGAN, Primary Examiner.
US. Cl. X.R.
60—52; 92—128, 255; 137--608